Priscila's Running Journal

The other day I was dreading my hills workout because sometimes hill workouts take a ton of mental energy and already the day was going to be long and tiresome not including the workout.

But in a moment of clarity, I thought,

Focusing on doing the work it takes (hills x 10) rather than on the energy it takes to do it,

is Being. and not wanting.

And it changes everything.

For the last several months I've been actively stretching and strengthening my thighs and butt at physical therapy. No running whatsoever bc my knee and hip are working to get as strong and comfortable as possible before I can start to train for reall-forreal this spring.

Yesterday tho I went on a test jog just to make sure everything still works running wise-- after all, I don't want to get rusty-- only to discover that I have gotten rusty. My form is a little wobbly, breathing is a little sloppy, and I failed to check the weather before walking out the door which means I was unprepared for the cold wind. I had a bad run. But this is all okay because by the end of it, I still felt like I had love for myself. Younger me would have looked in the mirror and blamed the bad run on myself for being inherently forgetful and out-of-shape. And then quit. Shame never gets anyone anywhere good. It is a horrible thing that must be eradicated from every mirror on planet earth.

I won the Lottery to run in the Chicago Marathon this year!

The cities of Berlin, London, Boston, Tokyo, Chicago, Sydney, and NYC are home to the "World Marathon Majors," or the most high-profile marathons known worldwide and, as a lifelong runner, for years I have dreamt of participating in one of them.

Bold of me to assume that my name would be drawn. Fortune favors the bold.

This fall, after following a training plan called "1 hour 45 minutes Half-Marathon", I finished my final running event of the year at the St. Louis Half with a time of 1:52:46. This puts me at a pace of 8:37min/mile, for those who celebrate.

Not bad considering my left knee nearly gave out at mile twelve, forcing me to commit the cardinal sin of walking (could have sprinted the last 1.1 miles were it not for chronic knee pain that flares up when sprinting. Note to fellow runners: Do not ignore your knee pain). Not bad considering it was 37 degrees F and windy. Not bad. Not bad at all.

I am halfway and one minute to a 7:37min/mile Full Marathon - which is one of my major goals in life.

Will I reach my goal?

I am back on the hunt for shoes. The two pairs I toggle between right now are Nike Pegasus 38 and the Hoka Mach 5.

Nike Pegasus 38 - There is something old school and work horse-ey about these. Like they don’t offer any bouncy super power or look anything chic. They just do the work.

Hoka Mach 5 - I went out of my comfort zone for the Hoka Mach 5 because when I tried on, it was extremely lightweight. I like how wide the toe box is. I was worried about it being too bouncy for running but it has been surprisingly sturdy for long runs.

In 2008 I ran a half-marathon for the first time ever. Somewhere at my mom's house there is a photo of me crossing the finish line with the time ticker above me displaying my finish time. I think I can beat that.

2024: Sixteen years later, I signed up for my second half-marathon. In Cape Girardeau, MO

In 2025 I'll run my second half with the goal of beating 18 year-old self's time.

october 2o24

Today I found a beautiful trail only a mile from the house and got to experience my first midwest leisure run. I only jogged two miles, but I know the trail goes on longer than that so tomorrow I'm going back to discover more of it.

Autumn running is special, and unfortunately not something Southerners experience like Midwesterners. Here the air is crisp, branches sway and swish in the breeze, and leaves gently pluck themselves away from the trees -- a cheat code for the senses. If only scientists could bottle this up into a pill.